CM Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and PTI Chairman, Imran Khan. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
The dual office of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and other ministers seems to have polarised relations between the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) federal and provincial chapters.
Deputy General Secretary PTI and Media Adviser to Imran Khan, Imran Ismail confirmed to The Express Tribune that the developments were true.
“The media reports in connection with the Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting are correct,” Ismail said.
The Express Tribune had published a report on the PTI’s CEC meeting in which the party chairman Imran Khan had asked K-P CM Khattak to relinquish his party post as the PTI’s manifesto did not allow him to carry two portfolios.
However, the chief minister had claimed that the news was baseless and the members of the CEC had shown their support for him.
This was followed by an official statement by the party’s central media cell which stated that the news report was “misleading and baseless”.
While Khattak told the media in Nowshera that the CEC had entrusted him with a two-third vote of confidence, Imran Ismail said that not only was the claim to support dual office incorrect, “there had been no vote of confidence during the session.”
Ismail added that not just the chief minister, but Health Minister Shaukat Yousufzai, Elementary & Secondary Education Minister Atif Khan and K-P Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser were holding more than one office which was against the party’s manifesto.
“It was the party’s internal matter and would be dealt with internally,” Ismail said.
A report published earlier had stated that CM Khattak had preferred his position within the party over the slot of the chief minister of the province.
The PTI has been severely criticised because many of the party members are enjoying more than one lucrative portfolio. This has been severely debated in the recently concluded session of the K-P assembly.
Meanwhile, PTI members have protested over allotment of tickets for the by-elections to be held on August 22, accusing its leadership of nepotism. The recent developments are going to be a challenge for the newly-elected government in K-P to deal with.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 9th, 2013.
COMMENTS (11)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
in my view it was not needed at this stage
@Mohsin: Why do you ask about PMLN. Ignorance is not a bliss. This article is being highlighted because dual office issue is a point in the PTI Manifesto, not PMLN.
And as for the country's constitution is concerned, it is being followed by PMLN, whereby the Speaker National Assembly has reisgned not only as the finance secretary of PMLN but also from his PMLN mebership.
If PTI cant follow its own manifesto, how can they follow the rule of the country. Work begins at home. Lets not act all ignorant.
The dual office restriction is not part of constituion or PMLN manifesto, but PTI's manifesto/ code of conduct.
And if PTI does something wrong, do not justify it by pointing others who are wrong. Two wrongs dont make a right. Just like IK used ot say, whenever you blame PPP, they say that others also do it, so why not us. Then what is the difference between you people and you claim you are not blind followers.
ET !! seems like you dont have any thing to do except critising PTI ...
A journalist published a story against ANP, he was beaten up,,, non among the rest of Peshawar Press Club members had the courage to file another story,,,,, long live PTI, your media trial has begun,,
ET, Is there any resentment as I am seeing that mostly my comments are not published?
@Bilal:
As many times as ET considers necessary in the interest of the readers? I m an observer but support the Media independence regardless of whether they are right or wong in their policies.
Rex Minor
ET, how many times you will publish this news ?? please !!
Why Pervaiz Khattak keep insisting to hold the the dual office? He should vacant the party post soon after the taking the oath of Cheif Minister!!!!! And being the Chairman of PTI, instead of requesting, Imran Khan should initiate the party elections on all those positions where members have chosen to go into the government.
Who is the chairman of PML-N these days? Just asking!
CM KPK should follow PTI manifesto.